Genomics

Dataset Information

0

Characterization of HCV-specific CD4 T cells during DAA-Therapy


ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic HCV-infection is characterized by a severe impairment of HCV-specific CD4 T cell help that is driven by chronic antigen stimulation. We aimed to study the fate of HCV-specific CD4 T cells after viral elimination. Methods: HCV-specific CD4 T cell responses were longitudinally analyzed using MHC class II tetramer-technology, multicolor flow cytometry and RNA sequencing in a cohort of chronically HCV-infected patients undergoing therapy with direct-acting antivirals. In addition, HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies and CXCL13 levels were analyzed. Results: We observed that the frequency of HCV-specific CD4 T cells increased within two weeks after initiation of DAA therapy. Multicolor flow cytometry revealed a downregulation of exhaustion and activation markers and an upregulation of memory-associated markers. While cells with a Th1 phenotype were the predominant subset at baseline, cells with phenotypic and transcriptional characteristics of follicular T helper cells increasingly shaped the circulating HCV-specific CD4 T cell repertoire, suggesting antigen-independent survival of this subset. These changes were accompanied by a decline of HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies and the germinal center activity. Conclusion: We identified a population of HCV-specific CD4 T cells with a follicular T helper cell signature that is maintained after therapy-induced elimination of persistent infection and may constitute an important target population for vaccination efforts to prevent re-infection and immunotherapeutic approaches for persistent viral infections.

PROVIDER: EGAS00001003950 | EGA |

REPOSITORIES: EGA

Similar Datasets

2021-10-24 | GSE157447 | GEO
2021-03-30 | GSE147330 | GEO
2009-08-07 | E-GEOD-16697 | biostudies-arrayexpress
| EGAS00001004538 | EGA
| EGAD00001006259 | EGA
2013-08-19 | E-GEOD-49954 | biostudies-arrayexpress
2013-08-19 | GSE49954 | GEO
2009-07-28 | GSE16697 | GEO
2023-02-27 | GSE225619 | GEO
2024-01-24 | GSE198281 | GEO